While representatives of the New Progressive Party (PNP) they messed up against the body record in its first 70 days, the chamber president, Rafael “Tatito” Hernandez, He defended management, insisting that it has laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and participatory process for minorities, while at the same time calling for an assessment of the “quality” and not the “quantity” of legislative work.
The legislators of the PNP Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló, Juan Oscar Morales i Víctor Parés stressed that most of the Democratic People’s Party it has barely given way to seven bills, while none of the bills referred to by the Senate have yet been passed, implying that the governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia it has not yet had legislation for its signature since the new four-year period began.
“The Health Commission in the House he has worked on a bill, one (only), after questioning the Secretary of Health (Carlos Mellado), With so many issues we can address. In economic matters, zero, they have no project. That is what we are saying, work what you deem relevant because public policy is up to the majority to establish. Of course, if the majority wants to have the other parties represented in the Legislative Assembly, no problem, that is why it is the process of public hearings, that they cite us. But they have to take care of the projects and they are not doing it. They are focused on investigation, talking in the stands, repealing laws and this does not produce anything positive for our people, “said Rodriguez Aguiló, alternate spokesman for the Penepé minority.
Representatives noted that in the four-year terms from 2009 to 2012, 2013 to 2016 and 2017 to 2020, 34, 21 and 22 bills had been passed by now, respectively. In addition, they argued that four years ago, in the “first months” of government, two chambers had passed 21 bills that passed to the signature of the then governor, Ricardo Rosselló.
Among the measures that would require greater urgency, in Parés’ opinion, are projects 345, 346 and 549, authored by him. The first seeks to “financially train” the workforce; the second, to “regulate and supervise” the elevator industry; and the third, to amend the Permits Act.
Morales, meanwhile, demanded that the process of House Project 503 so that the funds raised by a special charge for the purchase of tablets are intended exclusively for the Trauma Hospital, Instead of granting discretion to the Secretary of Health over its use.
Parés also pointed out that the slow pace of passing legislation is unjustifiable, as historically “98%” of projects have been approved unanimously.
For his part, Rodríguez Aguiló has criticized that one has not yet been approved ethical code.
Reply “Tatito”
Shortly afterwards, at a press conference, Hernández Riposto, who prefers to wait until April to celebrate the 100 days of the current administration to make comparisons with previous four-year terms, and established a contrast with the last House of Representatives in the ensure that each measure will be debated prior to its approval.
At the same time, he stressed that the current amendment process is more rigorous, as it involves the holding of a ‘markup session’ at the committee level prior to going down to a plenary vote.
“The thing (shouldn’t be) measured only from the point of view of quantity. It is also necessary to enter into what is approved. Representatives, on April 22. The PNP passed a regulation in early January (2017) but left it ineffective for two months.We approved it by consensus, in dialogue, giving information to them, the January 25. We have up to ‘markups.’ Not only is the measure seen, the amendments are discussed before they reach the ‘floor’, the ‘floor’ must be defended.It is a dramatic contrast, no longer there is obscurantism, “argued Hernandez, who added that he expects the body to pass the Internal Code of Ethics on March 18.
Among the successes of this lower house, Hernández included the investigation of the contract for the privatization of the electricity transmission and distribution network, which has generated public questions about the prerogatives granted to the consortium. Luma Energy in cases of disaster and the labor protections of the current employees of the Electricity Authority.
Hernández also validated the emphasis on repealing or amending laws passed in the past four years, as happened with laws 165 and 167 of 2020, which, respectively, allow the governor to convene a referendum on status unilaterally and orders a publicly funded election to choose intriguers from the state.
“The last four years were so bad and so bad that the citizens and voters of Puerto Rico gave us a mandate and forged a diverse Legislative Assembly, defeating the majority of the PNP. The governor is penepé, the police station resident is penepé, but the Legislative Assembly is popular, of Dignity project and the Citizen Victory Movement, Which together have a strong majority. Most of the measures that are here are to repeal the insensitive, run-down and abusive public policy of the past four years, ”the chamber president stressed.